Absolutely gorgeous church with a very interesting history, probably one of the few Russian Orthodox presence in Jerusalem. Very peaceful as well as it does not have nearly as many visitors as churches in Old Jerusalem. There's also an abundance of cats here if you're into that.
Church of Mary Magdalene
One of the more distinctive churches dotting the slopes of the Mount of Olives is the Church of Mary Magdalene, a Russian Orthodox church built in 1886 by Czar Alexander III in honor of his mother, Russian Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The church was constructed in the traditional Russian style of the 16th and 17th centuries, with seven gilded onion domes.
There are many icons on display at the church, which also holds the remains of two martyred Orthodox saints, the Russian Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and her fellow nun, Varvara Yakovleva. Princess Alice of Greece, the Grand Duchess’s niece and the mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II, noted for rescuing Jews from the clutches of the Nazis in Greece, is also buried there.
Photos courtesy of Ministry of Tourism, by Noam Chen
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 123 traveler reviews“One of the most beautiful exterior of all Jerusalem churches”
“Limited opening hours so check timings”
Absolutely visually stunning exterior . We were there when it was not open but spoke to a clergy man who was passing by and told us that it was not so grand inside .
“Beautiful ”
Set in the slopes of the mount of olives this Russian Orthodox Church with its golden onion domes is breathtaking.